John W. Shire, II, 59, of Manheim Township, died Tuesday, August 23, 2011 at Hospice of Lancaster County on Good Drive. He was born and raised in York to the late John W. and Arlene R. Shire.

A 1970 graduate of Central York High School, he earned a managerial certificate from Penn State York. John was a paid firefighter of Springettsbury Township Fire Department for 29 years. Starting as a firefighter in 1977, he retired as Shift Captain in November of 2006. Next John was a supervisor for York County 911. Lastly, he was the safety, security and transportation manager for Brethren Village. He attended St. John Neumann Catholic Church.

John was assistant Fire Chief and Trustee of East Petersburg Fire Company for the last 9 years. He was a Certified Fire and Explosive Investigator and was National Pro Board Certified of Fire Service Qualifications as Fire Officer III, Instructor II and Inspector I.

John's loving family includes his wife Barbara Beittel Shire; 2 sons, Matthew J. Shire, husband of Jane Shire, and their daughter Eva Shire of Avondale, and Brian P. Shire, and his fiancé Lauran Wiltsie of West Goshen; sister Joyce, wife of Keith Sauerwald of Cape Coral, FL; niece Jill, wife of Phil Keppell, and their sons Brandon Lawton and Taylor Keppell of California; and his cousin Nancy, wife of Ron Wagman of Dover.

A Visitation will take place from 9 to 11 AM and the Funeral Mass at 11 AM, with The Rev. Paul J. Theisz officiating, on Saturday, August 27 ^th at St. John Neumann Catholic Church. Interment will be private. Please omit flowers. Contributions can be made in John's memory to the Capital Improvement Fund at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 601 E. Delp Rd., Lancaster, PA 17601 or to the Good Samaritan Fund at Brethren Village, Attn: Development Department, PO Box 5093, Lancaster, PA 17606 or to the East Petersburg Fire Company, 6076 Pine St., East Petersburg, PA, 17520. To send the family online condolences, please visit SnyderFuneralHome.com. Charles F. Snyder Jr. Funeral Home & Crematory 717-560-5100